The Indianapolis journal., 1887-10-09
CHAPTER XVIII

sand why have you come hereP
Because had to do so."
''We ought never to meet you know. except
In the marsh at Black Creek. and then only after
you have written to tell mel"
"But had TO beat hurried retreat, and es-
cape to the Everglades
"Why7
II am going to tell you.'
"But is there risk of our being found OUT
mo! 1 came in the dark, and none Of your
slaves saw me-"
Zermah listened but she could not up to this
point, make out the meaning Of the conversa-
tion, nor could she imagine who the wig
vans unexpected guest There were certainly
two men talking; and yet it seemed as though it
was only one man who questioned and answered.
The voice the same; the accent was the
same; the words seemed to come from the same
mouth. In Zermah tried TO look through
q crack in the door. The room was lighted but
feeblv, and remained in n half shadow which
prevented the least object from being distin-
guished. The kalf breed had, therefore. to con-
tent herself with listening as intently as possi-
bic to a conversation which might be Of extreme
Importance for her.
After moments silence the two men had
continued as follows. Evidently it was Texar
'.You have not come alonep
ono; some Of our men came with me to the
Everglades"
''How manyP
"Forty"
care you not afraid that they will find out
what we have kept secret from them for SO
longp
sNo. They will never see us together.
When they leave Carneral Island they will have
learnt pothing, and the plan of our life will in
no way be changed"
And Zermah thought she could hear the clasp
Of the hands as they met in token of continued
friendship.
Then the conversation was resumed
"What has happened since Jacksonville was
taken9"
IA serious business. You know that Dupont
took possession of St Augustine"
.'Yes, know; and you, 1 suppose. know why
knowl"
eyes! The story of the Fernandina train
came in handy to allow you to establish the alibi
that forced the court to acquit youP
(which did not suit them! Bah! It is not
the first time we have got off like that"
"And it WON'T be the last But do you know
what the federas are after in occupying St Au-
gustnel 1t not much to hold the cap
ital of St Johns county as to organize the block
ads of the Atlantic coast"
$50 heard.
"Wel, to watch the coast from the mouth Of
the St. Johns to the Bahamas did not seem to be
enough for Dupont, and he resolved to follow up
contraband Of war into the interior Of Florida.
So he sent off two boats crews. Have you heard
of thisr
"Nor
''But when did you leave Black Creek7 Some
days after you were acquitted"
"Yes! The 22d of this month"
This took place on the 22d."
1t should be remembered that Zermah knew
nothing of the ambuscade at Kissimmee. of
which Captain Howick had spoken to Gilbert at
their meeting in the forest So she, like the
Spauiard, heard for the first time how the boats
had been burnt. and hardly dozen survivors
had found their way back to the Commodore
with news of the disaster.
''Welll Wellw exclaimed Texar THAT is a
happy revenge for the capture of Jacksonville
TO the thick of Florida, not one of them will get
back"
mot If we get them among the
marshes of the Everglades And we shall have
them there before long"
what do you meaE2"
Dupont has sworn to avenge the death of
his officers and sailors, and a expedition has
been sent out to the south of St. Johns county,
"The federals coming from that quartsrP
''Yes, but more numerous ana better armed
and well on their guard against ambuscades."
Have you met them2"
mo, for people not in force now, and
we have had to retreat. But retired we
drew them after When we have been
Joined by the militia. who somewhere about
we will fall on them. and not one shall escape"
''Where did they come froml'
'Mosguito Inlet"
(which way did they GOMEZ"
Through the cypress grove"
"Where are they nowP'
'Abort forty miles from Carneral Island"
Good" said Texar. "We must get them
further south for there is not day to lose in
concentrating the militia. IL necessary, we
must be off tomorrow to the shore of the BAHIA
ma channel"
'And from there il we pressed before
we can collect friends, we shall find a safe
retreat in the English islands"
The different matters alluded to in this con-
versation were OF the greatest interest to Ter
nah. If Texar decided leave the island
would he take the prisoners with him, or would
he leave them at the wigwam in charge of
Squambo? In that case il would be better not
TO attempt to escape until after the Spaniard's
departure. Then she might, perhaps, have
better chance Of success. And perhaps the fed
eral expedition then in lower Florida might
reach Lake Okes-cho-be bee, in sight Of Carneral
islandl
But these hopes vanished almost as soon as
they rose. For the next question that was
asked was, what was to be done with the half
breed and the child and to it Texar answered,
without hesitation
IL shall take them. il necessary. to the BAHIA
mas"
"But will the little girl bear the discomforts
of the voyagep
'Yes! l will answer for that and besides,
Zermah knows how she avoid them."
saBut IL the child were O die3u